With today's rising unemployment and fiercely competitive workforce, workers must quickly show their worth to an organization. Particularly with highly sought-after positions, the hiring managers are swamped with applications and barely have time for a fleeting glance as resumes pile onto their desk. For this reason, it's imperative to use a well-written executive summary to grab attention and interest from those with the power to hire you.

Purpose

An executive summary tells potential employers why, in a nutshell, they should consider you for an open position. It allows you to highlight your experience in a way that entices readers to take a closer look at your resume and then contact you for an interview.

Features

An executive summary typically consists of one paragraph containing two to five sentences. A well-written executive summary starts with a brief introduction of yourself, states some of your greatest professional achievements, and tells hiring managers how you can contribute to the position and the company as a whole.

Considerations

A well-written executive summary is typically composed of a series of short yet powerful statements that look more like sentence fragments rather than complete sentences. While that may seem grammatically incorrect, it is the preferred method of composing executive summaries and is widely accepted (and expected) by busy hiring managers. The point is to put the focus on the accomplishments and skills you bring to the table without any extra "fluff" that might be added to make each statement a complete sentence.

Example

An example of an effective executive summary would read something like this: Knowledgeable administrative assistant with extensive secretarial, administrative and personal assistant experience in such diverse industries as construction, marketing and financial services. Proven ability to manage projects, keep the office organized, and provide extraordinary customer service. Strict attention to detail and well-developed people skills in order to effectively manage an office and keep projects running smoothly.

Poor Example

Prospective employees sometimes use an objective statement that talks more about what the employee wants than how they can help the employer. Busy hiring managers would much rather know what's in it for them than vice versa. An example of an ineffective objective statement would look something like this: Experienced administrative assistant seeking full-time employment within the construction industry to gain a better understanding of construction operations.